[NEWS]Taiwan-UK Exchange: Minghsin Leads British High School Students into Semiconductor Industry

With the facilitation and arrangement of the Ministry of Education, the British Office Taipei, and the British Council, as the new semester begins, Minghsin University of Science and Technology (MUST) welcomed a delegation from Stepney All Saints School in East London, the UK this morning. Deputy Director General of the Department of International and Cross-Strait Education of the Ministry of Education, Liao Kao-Hsien, Director of Economic Growth of the British Office Taipei, Jessica Henry, and Director Taiwan of the British Council, Ralph Rogers, accompanied the visit, highlighting the importance attached by the UK to this visit.

MUST is honored to be the only university visited by this delegation during their trip to Taiwan. President Liu Kuo-Wei warmly welcomed the students from Stepney All Saints School. President Liu stated that the students visited the "Semiconductor Talent Cultivation Base" and the "Intelligent Manufacturing Laboratory," aiming to introduce those British high school students to the semiconductor industry. He expected that through this visit, those students from the UK could understand Taiwan's semiconductor industry and its global economic impact. President Liu also mentioned that MUST has started promoting the Mandarin for Specific purpose (MSP) program, allowing foreigners to learn semiconductor professional terms in Chinese. 

Deputy Director General Liao Kao-Hsien  stated that since early 2023, the government has been actively assisting schools in the UK at all levels to exchange visits, allowing British students to experience Taiwan's STEM education and semiconductor industry talent cultivation, thereby promoting campus to be “glocalization” and bilingual advocated by the Ministry of Education. Deputy Director General Liao pointed out that MUST currently has the largest semiconductor teaching base in Taiwan. He jokingly remarked that the English abbreviation for Minghsin University of Science and Technology is “MUST”, so if someone wants to know semiconductors, they “must” visit this University. In addition, British students are welcome to come to Taiwan to learn Mandarin and engage in exchanges, with scholarships available from the Ministry of Education. 

Jessica Henry, Director of Economic Growth of the British Office Taipei, mentioned that the UK and Taiwan have many aspects of cooperation and exchanges, such as economy, trade, information, and technology. She expressed her pleasure regarding the Turing Scheme initiated by the UK government, which allows students to visit Taiwan, especially to MUST to learn about the semiconductor industry. The UK government also has the Youth Mobility Scheme that welcomes Taiwanese students to apply for exchanges in the UK. 

Ralph Rogers, Director Taiwan of the British Council, hoped that those students could experience different cultures, and embrace every moment in Taiwan.

Lewis Smith, Deputy Headteacher of Stepney All Saints School, expressed his delight at the opportunity, arranged by the Ministry of Education in Taiwan, to get acquainted with Taiwan's most renowned semiconductor industry and technological education. He mentioned that the UK is also an island nation, through this program student can understand Taiwan's experience in developing technology industries, particularly the significance of the advantages in the semiconductor industry and relations with other countries. He also hoped that the experience in Taiwan would give them an advantage in applying to universities and seeking employment in the future. 

The delegation, subsidized by the British government's Turing Scheme, consists of 5 teachers and 18 students who arrived in Taiwan on February 16th for a 2-week visit. In addition to visiting MUST to explore semiconductors, they also collaborate with Nangang High School, Dongshi High School, and Yongchun High School on theme research and exchanges such as marine conservation and augmented reality. The delegation also tours various attractions in Taiwan, including Taipei 101, Tamsui, Lehua Night Market, Raohe Night Market, Neiwan Old Street in Hsinchu, Xingtian Temple, Taipei Grand Mosque, and Chiayi Hinoki Village, experiencing authentic Taiwanese culture.

The delegation toured the "Semiconductor Talent Cultivation Base" and the "Intelligent Manufacturing Laboratory" at MUST. They experienced cleanroom suit wearing and airshower room, as well as learning the knowledge of semiconductor equipments and processing procedures. In the afternoon, with the assistance of MUST, the delegation will visit the TSMC Innovation Museum in the Hsinchu Science Park. (Source: The Office of International Affairs)